These resources are specifically designed for SparkWell program participants. While other organizations may find them valuable for reference, some materials reference program-specific processes, timelines, and requirements that apply only within the SparkWell fiscal sponsorship context.
Overview
Beyond your monthly check-ins with your Project Liaison, SparkWell Projects have access to specialized advisory support in strategic areas critical to nonprofit development. Thanks to grant funding from Effective Ventures, this support is available through June 2026 at no cost to your project.
What you receive: 1-2 hours per month of advisory support matched to your current needs and development stage. These are one-time consultations with subject matter experts focused on knowledge transfer and strategic guidance.
How advisory hours work
Allocation
- Advisory hours vary by advisor expertise and topic complexity
- All costs covered by grant funding (no impact to your project budget)
- Sessions structured as one-time consultations—make the most of your time as follow-ups may not be available
What advisory sessions are
- Strategy development and planning sessions
- Educational sessions on best practices
- Review and feedback on your strategic thinking
- Consultations with subject matter experts
What advisory sessions are not
- Working sessions to create deliverables
- Hands-on implementation support
- Ongoing advisory relationships
If you need implementation support or deliverable creation, you may engage advisors separately at your project's expense (subject to their availability).
Advisory areas
We commonly provide support in these areas, though we can source advisors for other topics based on your needs:
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Brand development & marketing: Brand positioning and messaging strategy, website planning and user experience, marketing strategy development, etc.
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Fundraising strategy & donor management: Donor identification and cultivation, grant strategy development, stakeholder mapping and engagement, etc.
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Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation: Logic model strategy and framework design, impact measurement approaches, program evaluation planning, etc.
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HR systems & hiring strategy: Organizational structure planning, recruitment strategy development, interview process design, compensation strategy and benchmarking, etc.
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Board development & governance: Board structure and composition, governance frameworks, board recruitment and development, etc.
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Domain-specific advisory: Depending on availability, we can connect you with:
- Policy experts in your issue area or regulatory environment
- Similar founders who have built organizations in your field
- Subject matter experts with relevant technical knowledge
- Regional specialists for specific geographic areas
- Sector veterans in your cause area (AI safety, global health, climate, etc.)
- Operational leaders from organizations with similar structures or growth trajectories
Current advisors
Rick Holland (LinkedIn)
Nonprofit connector with 25+ years of fundraising experience raising millions for organizations including ALLFED, Animal Equality, Sinergia Animal, and GFI.
- Fundraising strategy & donor management
Rickard Vikstrom (LinkedIn)
Independent growth leader specializing in scaling impact organizations through team building, revenue growth, and strategic relationships. Former CEO at The Life You Can Save.
- Fundraising strategy & donor management
David Jones
Cybersecurity specialist for high-impact organizations. Founder of Wavefront Security.
- Information security
- Data protection
- Cybersecurity risk management
Jeffrey Poche
Jeffrey leads the SparkWell program and Anti Entropy. Previously Operations Manager at Centre for Long-Term Resilience and Chief Operating Officer at Fountain Forward.
- Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation
- Legal compliance & risk management
- "Bus-proofing" & sustainability strategy
- Board development & governance
Joshua Axford
Joshua advises the SparkWell team and select projects. Co-founder and CEO of Impact Ops, with previous operational leadership at Effective Ventures, CEA, and Marine Megafauna Foundation.
- Legal compliance & risk management
- "Bus-proofing" & sustainability strategy
- Board development & governance
Getting started
1. Discuss with your Project Liaison
During your monthly check-in, identify which advisory areas would be most valuable for your current development stage.
2. Prioritize your needs
Given the monthly allocation, focus on the most critical areas for your project's success.
3. Schedule your session
Your Project Liaison will facilitate introductions and help schedule your advisory session.
Come prepared
Maximize your advisory support by:
- Sending a brief agenda, talking points, or questions beforehand
- Having specific questions or challenges ready
- Sharing relevant background materials in advance
- Setting clear objectives for the session
After each advisory session, update your Project Liaison on the outcomes so we can continue to refine our advisor matching approach.
Questions?
Contact your Project Liaison during monthly check-ins or reach out to:
- support@antientropy.org - General operational matters
- bookkeeping@antientropy.org - Financial questions